This workshop is targeted for chemistry teachers in the pcb sequence, but is open to all high school chemistry teachers nationwide.

GoalsThe Modeling Workshop in 1st semester chemistry is an intensive 3-week course with these goals:1. educate teachers in use of a model-centered, guided inquiry method of teaching, and improve content understanding at the same time,2. help participants integrate computer courseware effectively into the science curriculum,3. help teachers make better use of national resources for science education,4. establish electronic network support and a learning community among participants, 5. strengthen local institutional support for participants as school leaders in disseminating standards-based reform in science education.

ObjectivesThe main objective of the 1st summer Modeling Workshop is to acquaint teachers with all aspects of the modeling method of instruction and develop some skill in implementing it. To that end, teachers are provided with a fairly complete set of written curriculum materials to support instruction organized into coherent modeling cycles (as described in Wells et al., 1995). The physical materials and experiments in the curriculum are simple and quite standard, already available in any reasonably equipped classroom.

To develop familiarity with the materials necessary to fully implement them in the classroom, we find that teachers must work through the activities, discussions and worksheets, alternating between student and teacher modes. Each unit in the course manual includes an extensive Teacher Notes section. Throughout the course, teachers are asked to reflect on their practice and how they might apply the techniques they have learned in the course to their own classes.

Modeling Instruction is aligned with the eight science practices outlined in the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Standards.

Peer leaders: Larry Dukerich and Janice Morris Location: Columbia High School all day MTWThF